Hunter Island (British Columbia) facts for kids
Hunter Island is a beautiful island located off the coast of British Columbia, a province in Canada. It's found about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Port Hardy, a town at the top end of Vancouver Island. This island is part of a wild and natural area, surrounded by many smaller islands and waterways.
Hunter Island is 34 kilometers (21 miles) long. Its width changes, ranging from 5 kilometers (3 miles) to 16 kilometers (10 miles). The island covers an area of 334 square kilometers (129 square miles). Its highest point reaches 899 meters (2,949 feet) above sea level.
Hunter Island's Location and Neighbors
Hunter Island is surrounded by many interesting places. To its south, you'll find smaller islands like Stirling Island and Nalau Island. Beyond them, across a water channel called Hakai Passage, is Calvert Island.
To the east, Fitz Hugh Sound separates Hunter Island from the mainland. This sound is part of the Inside Passage, a famous water route. Also to the east is King Island, which is mostly inside Dean Channel, a very large coastal fjord.
To the west of Hunter Island is Queens Sound. This sound lies between Hunter Island and a group of islands called the Goose Group. Also on the west side is Cultus Sound. This sound is known for being tricky to navigate. Its name, cultus, means "bad" or "worthless" in the Chinook Jargon language. To the southwest, you'll find Kildidt Sound.
To the north, Hunter Island is separated from Denny Island by Lama Passage. It's also separated from Campbell Island by Hunter Channel. Both Fitz Hugh Sound and Lama Pass are important parts of the main Inside Passage route.
Protecting Hunter Island's Nature
The area around Hunter Island is very special, so parts of it are protected. Just south of Hunter Island, in Hakai Pass, is the Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy Area. This huge protected area covers more than 1,200 square kilometers (463 square miles) of land and sea. It is the largest provincial marine protected area along the British Columbia coast.
Another important protected area is the Hakai Provincial Recreation Area. This large park is 50,707 hectares (125,299 acres) in size. It includes the southern part of Hunter Island and the northern part of Calvert Island. It also protects many smaller islands nearby.
